The wave of commute - the 2nd place design of Tímea Deichler and Dániel Jakab

The second place winners for designing the commercial centres in Csepel Island have created a minimalist and sustainable plan. The main motif of the project is a wave, which, in their word "suggests the relationship of the Danube River and Csepel Island, the history, and the everyday commuting of the people".

Site

Axis

Kossuth Lajos Street is a strong axis in our design. In this axis, there are three different areas present with diverse functions and atmosphere. Approaching from north, the first one is the Szent Imre Square with a church and the surrounding park, which is a significant green area in the neighbourhood. The second is the meeting of the Ü1-Ü2 (üzletközpont = commercial centre) buildings, where a major pedestrian axis is present now. However, its communal role should be more significant among the surrounding living areas. The third one is the commercial strip of Csepel Plaza and the market. Based on these, we suggest to transfer some of the functions that contribute less to the communal and social life of the two buildings (Ü1, Ü2), from there, to Csepel Plaza. Relocation of those functions could refresh the commercial buildings and the plaza too.

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Wave

The wave motif in the area is present in multiple ways. It suggests the relationship of the Danube River and Csepel Island, the history, and the everyday commuting of the people. We imagine the axis of Kossuth Lajos Street as a wavy stripe, where one wave crest is at the centre of the design area, the contact of the two buildings. Other crests are possible along the strip, for example by developing the commercial strip of the plaza and the market. The development of that area is not part of this design project.

Vertical and horizontal strips

Step by step, we are opening out the Ü1-Ü2 centres towards the communal area between the two buldings. To separate the inner areas of the buildings from the noise of the Kossuth Lajos Street, the building mass and facade near the street are more closed and protecting, while the whole form is fragmented towards the inner parts, and the surrounding buildings. The combination of the horizontal and vertical lines, and the two buildings' relation and form can be interpreted as a wave too.

Spaces

Although the two buildings (Ü1-Ü2) are close to each other, their appearence and nature are different. While the Ü1 is the arriving point from the suburban railway, with an eventful square connected to the internal street of the building creating a flowing system, the Ü2 building is a much more relaxed area, with separate smaller places, "islands", which are also present at the current situation. The Ü2 building is organised around those separate, different areas.

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Functions

In the Ü1 building, bigger commercial blocks (blue), and smaller retail/food blocks (orange) are placed, with direct connection to the square. The smaller retail/food blocks can be seen around the atriums of the Ü2 building. The (green) medical blocks are next to a playground, the (claret) cosmetics blocks have a view of the atrium with benches, which are suitable for playing chess or card games. With the open uncovered areas, the cultural blocks (yellow) are connected. Those could complete the "world of the outdoor bookshelves and gaming tables". Surrounding the bus stops, smaller retail/food (commute, breakfast related) blocks (pruple) are designed.

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Ü1

The Ü1 building is a dynamic chain of flowing spaces. From north, a spacious square closes, which serves as the arrival point from the suburban railway and also houses the retail/food shops. In unity with the square, a roof terrace is desingned to elevate from the busy street and flowing spaces, creating a calmer area where people can sit down. The square could host thematic events, like a christmas market with a christmas tree and temporary shops below, while above, the whole event can be observed with some hot wine and a chatty company.

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Ü2

The Ü2 building is more relaxed. Open in the south side, with a park and cultural functions, such as the outdoor bookshelves. Under the roof, several atriums create diverse unique spaces with supporting functions.

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Sustainibility

Keeping the main structure

We keep and utilise the foundation and most of the roof structure (some elements are removed to support the new spaces). Apart from their current structural functions, these elements gain some additional purposes. The columns left in the outer areas are covered with polycarbonate sheets in a way, that the space between the column and the polycarbonate sheet can be used to attach fluorescent lamps and a drain pipe to collect rainwater in the water containers.

The roof as shading

The shape of the roof is designed to create shade mainly from south and west, to reduce the amount of sunrays and prevent overheating at the necessary points. The collected rainwater goes through a filtration/cleaning unit to be collected under the building, and later it can be used for watering or the toilet.

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Soil probe and heat pump

At the proposed bigger open spaces - at the meeting point of the two buildings - 40-40, approx. 100m deep soil probe is designed to use the geothermic heat of the ground for heating at winter and cooling during the summer season. Apart from covering the heating/cooling needs, this reduces the pollution significally.

CeiIing cooling and heating

The mechanical pipes/tubes are installed in the ceiling area. This way, the ceiling can be used to provide for comfortable and balanced control of the temperature, while the necessary mechanical elements remain hidden and the custom separation of the areas below the roof are able to create flexible floorplans.

Fountain

On the square, north to the Ü1 bulding, a floored fountain is designed with several points creating a subtle border. This resembles the eventful and motion filled character of the square, and cleares the air by reducing the concentration of dust particles. On the opposite side, at the south end of the Ü2 centre, a calm surface of water closes the area.

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Reused and renewable materials

The outer layer of the buildings are mostly built out of multi-layered sandwich panels and polycarbonate sheets. Apart from the fact that these materials are made of reused materials, and are renewable, their industrial character is in connection with Csepel Island’s industrial history.

Ventillation at night

At the top and bottom of specific policarbonate wall panels, small ventillation windows are designed. Through these, the inner areas can be ventillated during the night, maintaining the desired temperature even at the hottest summer days. The energy efficient planning and building allows to keep the operational costs at the lowest.

Green roofs

On top of the closed sections of the buldings, extensive green roofs are designed. The vegetation on the roofs improve the microclimate of the surrounding areas by moisturing the dry air and reducing the heat at summer in the inner and outer areas. The mass of the green roof and the vegetation greatly reduces noise pollution and improves aesthetics.

When designing this farm house-like home, András Varsányi, Péter Pozsár and Norbert Vas considered some major factors: minimalist ground-plan and the integration of basic forms – yet keeping in mind that a warm and intimate atmosphere is what they want to achieve.